Authorities say a multi-agency law enforcement sweep uncovered an elaborate indoor marijuana-growing operation in western Dawson County.

According to Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle, drug agents found more than two dozen marijuana plants in the basement of a home on Hensley Way and made one arrest.

The plants were each between 7 and 9 feet tall and have an estimated street value of $25,000.

"I am so proud of our drug unit for aggressively going after the drug violators in our county and how they work in conjunction with drug task forces in other jurisdictions in order to continue taking these drugs off our streets before they reach the general public," Carlisle said.

A similar indoor growing facility was also found that morning in neighboring Pickens County.

"We know that a lot of the drugs we find are coming from within Dawson County, but we also understand that a large quantity comes from outside our county, so it is very important to have the relationships we have with all of our surrounding counties," Carlisle said.

"We will continue working with all our partners in this endeavor and continue to be aggressive toward this drug war."

Sheriff's Lt. Col. John Cagle described both drug operations as professional.

"The way these are set up, they know what they are doing," he said.

After the Dawson County raid, 40-year-old Lazaro Rodriguez-Alfonzo was charged with manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. He is being held without bond.

Neither of the two juveniles who were also at the home Thursday afternoon have been charged.

The case remains under investigation.